The history of the University of Mary stretches back well beyond the moment of our founding.

Through our distinct heritage we hearken back

to the Great Commission of Jesus: "Go, teach all nations" (Matthew 28:19),

to the ancient and venerable wisdom tradition of the Benedictine order,

and to the Catholic intellectual tradition which gave rise to the very first universities, nearly a thousand years ago.

We share our story with a brave band of Benedictine Sisters who, in 1878, arrived in Dakota Territory to bring ministries of healing and learning, founding hospitals and schools for the people they had come to serve.

And through these courageous women, the unique pioneer spirit of North Dakota is ours as well. President Theodore Roosevelt, speaking of the formative years he spent in the North Dakota Badlands, recalled that spirit: "Ours was the glory of work and the joy of living!"

Our History at a Glance

1959 - The Benedictine Sisters of the Annunciation open the doors to Mary College, offering 4-year undergraduate degrees in nursing and education. Mother Edane Volk serves as the college’s first president.

1963 - Sister Anne Burns becomes the second president of the college, articulating a vision for "education in the professions with a strong liberal-arts base."

1965 - Father Arno Gustin, who had served as president of Saint John's University in Minnesota, is selected as the third president.

1968 - The heart of north campus is completed, featuring four buildings designed by world-famous architect Marcel Breuer.

1969 - Mary College achieves full accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.